Bran Flax Muffins

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups unbleached white flour
3/4 cup flaxseed meal
3/4 cup oat bran
1 cup brown sugar
2 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1 1/2 cups carrots, shredded
2 apples, peeled and shredded
1/2 cup raisins
1 cup nuts, chopped
3/4 cup milk
2 eggs beaten
1 tsp vanilla

Directions:

Mix together flour, flaxseed meal, oat bran, brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon in a large bowl. Stir in carrots, apples, raisins and nuts.
Combine milk, beaten eggs and vanilla.
Pour liquid ingredients into dry ingredients. Stir until ingredients are moistened. Do not overmix.
Fill muffin cups 3/4 full. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes. Yields 15 medium muffins.

Momma Valentini's Famous Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies

Mix together well:

1 stick margarine, softened
1 stick butter, softened
¾ cup light brown sugar
¾ cup regular sugar

Mix in:

1 whole egg and 1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla

Add:

1 cup flour
1 package vanilla instant pudding mix (full fat, not the fat free)

Add:

3 cups Old fashion Quaker Oats
1 bag chocolate chips or 1 ½ cups raisins
¼ cup coconut

Roll into balls and bake at 350 degrees until light golden brown, usually 11-12 minutes.
You can freeze the dough before baking and bake off as needed.

Blueberry Rubarb Coconut Pie

Ingrediants:
2 9-inch pie crust
3 TB cornstarch
3 TB rum
2 TB fresh lemon juice
2/3 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
2 - 3 cups fresh blueberries (depending how thick you want your pie)
1 & 1/2 cup fresh rubarb, chopped into 1 inch pieces
about 1 cup +/- of sweetened coconut
some heavy cream as a pie wash for the top then sprinkle on about 1 1/2 TB coarse sugar

Directions:

In a large bowl stir together the cornstarch, the rum, the lemon juice, the sugar, and the cinnamon. Add the blueberries, and combine the mixture well. Pour the filling into a 6- to 7-cup deep gratin dish or other shallow baking dish with 1 sheet rolled pie crust. (I used a deep dish/gratin).

Roll out the dough slightly larger than the dish. Roll out the dough slightly larger than the dish on a floured surface and drape it over the filling. Fold the overhang under, pressing the dough to the edge of the dish, and crimp the edge decoratively. Make slits and holes in the crust for air vents, brush the crust with the heavy cream, and sprinkle it with the coarse sugar.

Bake the pie on a baking sheet in the middle of a preheated 375 degree F oven for 1 hour to 1 1/4 hours, or until the filling is bubbly and the crust is golden.

If you want a toasted coconut topping, during the last 15 to 20 minutes of cooking remove pie from over, gently brush the top of the pie with a beaten egg and then sprinkle on the sweetened coconut. (using an egg wash not heavy cream, this time around helps the coconut adhere). Make the coconut topping as thin or as thick as you like.

When done baking, transfer the pie to a rack and let it cool.

Indian Vegetable Makhani

Ingrediants:

1 package of firm tofu (cut into cubes)
1 large onion,chopped coarsely
3 tbsp butter
1/2 – 3/4 cups tomato puree
2-3 green chillies, as per taste
3-4 cloves garlic
2 inch ginger, peeled and chopped
1 tsp turmeric powder
1 tsp cumin-coriander powder
1 tsp Tandoori masala
1/2 tsp cardamom powder
1 tsp sugar
1/4 cup cashew paste and 8-9 raisins ( optional. Use them if making Shahi Paneer – soak few cashew pieces in boiling water and grind)
1/4-1/2 cup heavy cream (as needed for consistency)
salt to taste
Mint and cilantro to garnish

Directions:

In a skillet in 1/2 tsp oil, add the onion, chillies, garlic and ginger with a little salt. Saute until soft.

Transfer this mixture to the blender and blend it into a paste.

In the same skillet, add 3 tbsp of butter and then add the onion paste. Cook until butter/oil separates. If using cashew Paste add it along with this mixture now. or you can soak the cashew pieces in hot water and grind it along with the onion mixture.

Add the tomato puree and all the spices. Stir well and cook for another 5-10 minutes or until the raw smell of the puree disappears. Add sugar and cook for another 5 minutes. You can at this point taste and see if you require additional salt

Drop in the tofu gently and give it a toss. Cook for another 2-3 minutes for the paneer to absorb the flavors.

Lower the heat to a simmer. Then add the heavy cream. Mix well.

Serve with rice